John J. Coker Papers, 1849-1871, undated
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Not requestable
Scope and Content Note
The papers of John J. Coker reflect his activities as a West African agent, They are arranged in two series.
Series I. Agent Papers (1849-1862) contain instructions from Robert Brookhouse, Emmanuel Curtis, and Simon Stoddard; letters with merchants, ship masters, and local traders; financial records; and cargo invoices. Of special note are the letters between Coker and his assistant, George Frothingham, which discuss local customs and activities as well as cargo transactions; instructions to the captains of the barks Manchester, Kedar, and Dawn; and Coker's record (B2 F3) of the vessels arriving and sailing from the West Coast, 1857-1858. This volume also contains a sea journal kept by Coker on the Sea Mew, which sailed from Ambritz to Salem, Oct.-Dec. 1858.
Series II. Agent Papers (1866-1871) contain instructions from Charles H. Miller and financial records.
Dates
- Creation: 1849-1868, undated
Creator
- Coker, John J., 1824-1885 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Biographical Sketch
John James Coker was born on June 23, 1824, the son of John and Elizabeth (Cook) Coker of London, England. He came to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1848 on the bark Edward Koppisch. By 1849 he was serving as an agent for Salem merchants on the West coast of Africa. Coker primarily worked for Robert Brookhouse, 1849-1862, and Charles H. Miller, 1866-1868.
Coker married Emma A. Ware (born 1831) in 1854 and they had two children. He married Emma Josephine Stanwood (1842-1914) on September 10, 1863. They had three children together. Later in life Coker unsuccessfully entered the shoemaking business. Ill health plagued his later life; Coker committed suicide on August 13, 1885.
Extent
1.21 Linear feet (3 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The papers of John J. Coker reflect his activities as a West African agent, They are arranged in two series.
Series List
SERIES I. Agent Papers (1849-1862)
SERIES II. Agent Papers (1866-1868)
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
The following volumes were a May 22, 1915 gift of Mrs. Fred A. Coker: Letterbooks, 1855-1858, 1859-1862; Daybook/Journal 1860-1861; and Invoice and Sales Books, 1852-1857, 1860-1861. The Cargo/Arrivals/Sea Journal volume which was removed from MSS 152 was also a gift of Mrs. Coker. The 1853-1855 and 1867-1868 Letterbooks, the 1867-1868 Daybook/Journal, and the 1860-1862 and 1861-1862 Expense Books were purchased June 12, 1915.
The account book dated 1869-1871, was donated by William R. Coker in memory of Linda M. (Johnson) Coker, on August 2, 2022 (Acc 2022.017). The remainder of the collection is from an unknown source.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Prudence K. Backman, March 1987. Updated by Tamara Gaydos, September 2015.
Subject
- Brookhouse, Robert, 1779-1866 (Person)
- Curtis, Emmanuel (Person)
- Frothingham, George (Person)
- Miller, Charles H. (merchant) (Person)
- Stoddard, Simon (Person)
- Sea Mew (Bark) (Organization)
- Title
- JOHN J. COKER PAPERS, 1849-1871, undated
- Author
- Processed by: Prudence K. Backman; Updated by: Tamara Gaydos; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Processing and rehousing of this collection were funded by grants from the following Essex Institute corporate members: Gulf of Maine Research Group, Bursaw Oil Corp., and Salem Laundry Co.
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository